Sincerity is the Way to Communicate! - 2
“Eh.”
I dozed off. My hand that had been supporting my chin fell, and Isabel, who had a pile of materials stacked on the desk like a mountain, bumped her chin on them.
“Aya ya……”
A bit of drool came out, but luckily I had memorized it all. Thank goodness, thank god.
'If only I hadn't fallen behind...'
I had dozed off with my chin on my hand, but in terms of time, it was almost like I had slept. I had kept my eyes closed for over two hours.
No choice. It wasn't an excuse, but the truth.
First, the '100 pages of materials' Adrian mentioned was 100 pages per person. Moreover, the difficulty was on a completely different level from what I had done before.
Memorizing 100 pages even if the content is easy is tough, but 100 pages of difficult and unfamiliar content? It's killing me. Or perhaps it's more painful because I'm alive. Anyway.
That said, I need to snap out of it. Other students have fire in their eyes studying hard, but if only Isabel is lagging behind, that absolutely can't happen...
“Eh?”
Isabel seemed to have held up well.
No one was ambiguously dozing. Hearing this, it seems pretty good, but in reality, it's not at all.
'What is this.'
They had laid a mattress-like thing in a corner of the lecture hall and a few of them were sleeping. Is it sleeping? I don't know why, but I don't think they'll open their eyes again.
It's not that hard, I'll admit that.
And somehow, it was an endearing and beautiful sight. Why would they stay in the lecture hall to sleep instead of going home to sleep? It must be the will to learn even one more thing.
Of course, Charlotte had left. She had a promise with the professor, so she had to keep that. Soon the time would come.
And only one person was still studying with fire in their eyes: Michelle Maynans.
'Impressive.'
She was already impressive, and since she was the one who suggested we try hard, she's doing it like this.
Even in the same failing lecture hall, the word 'failing' doesn't suit her at all.
Michelle, is her condition okay? No, it's not. Just seeing the sweat beads on her forehead is enough to tell.
But even in the same state, Isabel is exhausted and Michelle can do it. It's just one difference.
'Mental strength'
Watching that, I think I need to get serious again.
And then. The door to the lecture hall opened.
Charlotte, who had left sharply saying it was time to go home, arrived exactly on time.
Backpack on back, and materials piled on both sides. Dark circles under her eyes without blindfold, so she clearly hadn't slept.
“Research on the loyalty of elements to mages when elemental affinity and fire affinity are raised to master level—”
As soon as I entered, I went to my seat and reviewed by underlining the materials.
Wait, what? Underlining like that? How do you learn? It was like coloring the paper yellow with yellow highlighter.
“Fire is the most important process of injecting mana internally—”
Eyes half-closed but pronunciation is clear.
'Thanks to those two.'
Indeed. The atmosphere itself was created by Adrian, but thanks to Michelle and Charlotte, this atmosphere is maintained.
Whether they progressed far or not, they showed proper passion and concentration.
Thanks to that, there are students struggling, but no one complaining.
It was natural.
If the one who spoke had low grades, one would think 'why bother speaking', but by actually showing it, you have to shut up.
But then, suddenly, Charlotte placed the materials down with a thud. Then approached Michelle, who was holding on with twitching eyebrows.
“Michelle.”
“Why.”
“Master card… can I use it?”
Sigh, Michelle placed the materials down nervously.
“Already giving up. Have the resolve to turn your student card into master card level.”
“I'm not trying to use strange facilities.”
“Then.”
Charlotte pondered for a moment, lips moving. The longer she pondered, the more suspicion appeared on Michelle's face.
“...I want to see.”
“What.”
“Um…”
Charlotte scratched her head in embarrassment. Later, she fidgeted with both fingers restlessly.
“Annoying, so say it quickly.”
“I want to see the professor.”
“......?”
Michelle's face, which had been full of suspicion, turned instantly to bewilderment. What did I just hear.
“What.”
“I want to see the professor… my concentration is dropping.”
“What does that have to do with master card…”
“The treatment room is also a Rahal Academy building, right? If I use the master card, I might be able to go to the 13th floor.”
It wasn't wrong. But the way to use the master card is so extraordinarily bizarre that Michelle hadn't even thought of it...
“Adrian professor might get annoyed. Do you have any thoughts?”
“I'll just watch from afar.”
“Wait a bit.”
“I can't wait anymore. If I can't see, I won't be able to study anymore.”
“Sigh.”
For Michelle, this was a dilemma.
If she said she wanted to go to the cafeteria where upperclassmen enter, she would be scolded for bragging.
If she said she wanted to go to the library, she could scold her for not having studied the materials first.
...But wanting to see the professor because she can't study. How to handle this.
Let's calculate efficiently. Efficiently.
Charlotte is currently more passionate than anyone, helping create the study atmosphere greatly. Thinking that way, it's better to send her.
No choice.
Michelle glanced around slightly. Still early. Everyone had fallen asleep.
Isabel was awake but signaled by raising finger to lips. Isabel nodded obediently.
“Watch from afar.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Don't talk to the professor, don't touch him.”
“Yeah.”
Did Michelle's words have a bit of emotion? Anyway, Charlotte answered honestly.
“Hoo.”
Finally, Michelle secretly pulled out the master card stuck in the ceiling gap.
▶From now on, you are classified as a Key Character.
▶Key characters can check the scenario situation.
[Main Quest]
▶Raise the skills of major characters to the maximum before the next death flag appears.
▶7 days until the next death flag.
[Character Related]
▶Christine is watching you.
▶Student support has increased.
▶Michelle is concerned about you.
▶Charlotte depends on you.
'Good news.'
I closed the notes I had painstakingly organized without hesitation. From now on, I can check everything I intend to.
Seeing the words that student support had increased, the burden was greatly relieved. I could let out a sigh of relief.
I stretched my back and was about to go out to the hallway for a walk when...
“Um.”
As soon as I came out, I saw a strange sight.
A black-haired girl with blindfold on her head was peeking into the top floor hallway.
'What?'
“Euuh, eh?!”
I grabbed the back of her neck and hurriedly brought her back into the private room.
What are you looking around like that? How did you even get in?
“How did you get in?”
“Ah, a... Pro, professor?”
“I asked how you got in.”
“Ah... that...”
Charlotte handed me a black card. It was the signature of Principal Violet. Master card.
~I'll take good care of the F-class kids~
Was that the meaning?
I let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't that Charlotte had hidden here.
“Ah... Professor Adrian…”
Being stubborn is good. Looking at Charlotte's wobbly legs, anyone would think that.
The girl blushed and trembled, just looking up at me. Like watching a plant photosynthesize.
The more I stared, the more color returned to her body.
“I'm fine. Go back and study.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Charlotte tried to turn around shakily. But suddenly something came to mind.
~This is really good for mages' bodies~
~I even take care of this! Adrian-ssi, you must eat it. Okay? Instead, later let's have dinner with me...
Remembering, Violet had filled the dorm room drawer with various mana supplements and left.
“Wait.”
I called Charlotte.
Since I won't eat it, if I give it to the failing class students studying, it will help a lot.
'But if I just give it, I can't achieve the best efficiency.'
Literally. If I give it without meaning, I can't satisfy the expectation value. So I decided to use my head a bit.
“Charlotte.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Are you studying well?”
The girl nodded vigorously.
“Really... really hard. With all my best.”
“Good. Then, shall I give you a prize today.”
“A prize...?”
Charlotte tilted her head. She hadn't imagined it at all.
I took out one mana supplement from the drawer.
The bottle with gem-like edges was very luxurious. The clear blue liquid inside further enhanced its luxury.
In other words, even with Charlotte's eyes seeing it for the first time, she could immediately tell how precious it is.
“Mana supplement. It will greatly boost vitality. Keep it with you when you get tired.”
“This... this for me...? You're giving it to me?”
“Yes. Of course.”
I continued with a serious expression.
“This is our secret between you and me. Never reveal it, and eat it in a hidden place.”
“Ah...! O-of course! I will definitely...!”
Charlotte nodded madly. The girl was so moved that tears filled her eyes.
“Good. Then, tell the other kids to come to my room one by one in turn.”
“Yes! Thank you! Really... thank you!”
Charlotte wiped her tears, put the supplement in her pocket, hugged it tightly, and left the private room. The girl seemed more moved than ever.
'Just mana supplement isn't enough. It needs a special story attached.'
This much lie should be forgivable. Surely.
◈
Today's B-class was quite noisy.
It was because a 'transfer student' that is really hard to see at Rahal Academy had come.
And it was true. The front door of the lecture hall opened, and it wasn't just Professor Rachel. A girl with the B-class nameplate walked in together.
“Pretty.”
“Wow.”
The subsided murmuring turned instantly to admiration.
Whether male or female student, they admired. The girl with purple hair tied in two braids was clearly beautiful.
But it was a slightly twisted beauty. Like looking at a rose with too many thorns.
“The Tia seat is at the very back. If you want to introduce yourself briefly, do so.”
Rachel's instruction. But the girl called Tia was stunned for a moment. She looked around the B-class lecture hall as if watching something strange.
She stared for about three minutes.
“U-um. I am Tia.”
She introduced herself that way.
Somehow, she was a rather gloomy girl.